In chapter 31, Scout walks Arthur Radley home after he saves Jem's and her life from Bob Ewell's attack. Because Arthur doesn't speak to her, Scout has time to think of the many times Dill stood watching the Radley house hoping to get a glimpse of the man. Now, here she is walking the mysterious man to his own house in the dark of night. The thoughts she has on the walk could be great material for a letter from Scout to Arthur Radley because they highlight the indirect experiences they have had together as neighbors. First, Scout thinks about how average neighbors bring food and flowers when someone has died or is sick. Scout reflects on what she has received from her neighbor, Arthur Radley as follows:
"He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good-luck pennies, and our lives. But neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad" (278).
Because of this passage, it would be logical for Scout's letter to include a word or two of her gratitude for all of the things Arthur gave them in the knothole of his tree. She would probably apologize for ever believing Miss Stephanie Crawford's gossip about him and promise to praise his name all over Maycomb whenever she had the chance in the future; of course, she wouldn't mention his Halloween heroics, though, just to safeguard his privacy.
Scout would also thank Arthur Radley for the blanket that he placed around her during Miss Maudie's house fire in chapter 8, for mending Jem's pants in chapter 6, and not becoming angry at them for anything they may have played in chapter 5. She would probably end the letter wishing Arthur Radley well and offering her services at any time he ever feels inclined to ask. Therefore, it would be a cute and heart-felt letter of appreciation mostly, with a neighborly offer to assist him with anything he might ever need in the future.
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